India has announced new investments to strengthen its maritime military capabilities. The Ministry of Defense has signed contracts worth around $555 million to procure six ALH Mk-III Dhruv helicopters for the Coast Guard as well as VL-Shtil anti-aircraft missiles to equip ships in the Indian Navy.
The helicopters will be manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and will include operational equipment, technical support and logistics. The Dhruv model had previously been subject to restrictions following accidents recorded between 2024 and 2025, leading to a temporary halt in operations.
Investigations showed that the problem was related to specific conditions encountered by Navy and Coast Guard aircraft, leading to recommendations for improvements in the manufacturing process for critical components.
The gradual resumption of operations took place through 2026, including the use of an ALH Mk-III in a security exercise conducted by the Andaman and Nicobar Command. The new order signals renewed confidence in the helicopter, which is also being marketed for export, including a possible sale to the Philippines Coast Guard.
In addition, India continues to invest in new maritime aircraft and weapon systems. HAL is developing the UH-M maritime helicopter for the Navy, while the country has also purchased VL-Shtil missiles from Russia to equip Talwar-class frigates. The weapon system will be integrated into new ships in the fleet as part of a wider effort to strengthen the country’s maritime defences.
Source: Naval News | Photo: @DefenceDecode | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
